I love to cook. I love to eat. I can't use the toaster without making a mess.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Toasted Marshmallow S'more Cake

Four days. Four days until I will no longer sleep in my icy blue painted bedroom. Four days until my mom will never (other than holidays) make my dinner again. Four days until my pot of oatmeal will not be cleaned on its own. Four days until I am a big girl out in a new city. A new life. A new circle of friends. A new job. A new apartment. Four days.

That's crazy talk. And scary talk. And though I am ready, a part of me is clinging onto my youth. I am gripping onto the long summer nights I spent playing manhunt in my neighborhood. I am gripping onto the mornings where my friends and I showed up five minutes late to high school because we were seniors. I am gripping with all of my might to hold onto the little girl who is slowly growing up right in front of me. It's almost time to let go.

Yesterday, I spent time with two girls I coached for the past two years. Like me, they are about to embark on a new journey. They are heading to college. The best years of their lives, I tell them. But I'm sure, like me, a part of them is gripping onto the days where prom issues and boy problems were their biggest headaches. To the days where they were angry at their mothers and had curfews.

And so, for just a short hour, we sat in a kitchen and made a cake that could only remind us of summer nights. A cake that represented childhood bliss. A cake that, for just a few moments, could help us cling onto our youth a little longer.

Toasted Marshmallow S'mores Cake

(Recipe adapted from Baking Bites)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs, separated whites and yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk

3 cups mini marshmallows

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips + more for sprinkling

1/4 cup half and half

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp corn syrup

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly grease two 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Working in four additions, alternate stirring the graham cracker mixture and the milk into the creamed butter and sugar mixture.

3. In a third bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks. Slowly and carefully fold egg whites into graham cracker mixture, mixing until no streaks of white remain. Divide batter into prepared pans. (Don't be alarmed that the consistency isn't of a normal cake). Bake for about 20 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

4. Let cakes cool in pans for 3 minutes, then invert onto wire racks (remove parchment paper) to cool completely before filling and frosting. When cooled, turn oven up to 450 and thoroughly grease a cookie sheet. Pour marshmallows onto cookie sheet and place in oven until lightly browned. Meanwhile, in a medium, microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate, half and half, butter and corn syrup until melted. Stir with a fork or small whisk to ensure that everything comes together smoothly.

5. Place one layer of cake on a serving platter. Remove marshmallows from oven and put directly onto cake layer. Top with a small sprinkle of chocolate chips. Top with remaining layer and drizzle chocolate glaze over the top in an even layer, allowing it to drizzle down the sides. Store in the fridge, if you have any leftover.

17 comments:

Yum, that cake looks delicious. I'm sure the young ladies that you made it with will remember that day forever.

You don't have to cling to your youth. The memories never go away. I haven't lived at home in over 30 years but I can still close my eyes and hear my mom humming in the kitchen as she makes our morning oatmeal. I can picture the games of kick-the-can in the play yard across the street. It'll always be there, I promise.

Ahhh... I'm betting your mother is feeling much of the same. My son goes to college in 3 years and I'm already dreading the day, I can't imagine life without him here. Don't forget to call your mom, no matter how much fun you are having, she will miss you!As for the cake, well, you did an awesome job! My daughter would go nuts for this one. We will definitely put it on our summer menu!Good luck in the move!

I thought this post was so touching. It is so nice to see a daughter who loves her Mom so much. You will do great on your own, especially with such a good support system. My oldest has one more year at home to get his masters then he is off to another place for his phd. My daughter wants to go away to university and I begged her to stay one more year. Then they can spread their wings at the same time. (and Mom will follow them wherever they go,lol)

This recipe looks delicious. I think our whole family would love this one.

Good luck on your new adventure!Of six, all but two have moved out of the house and believe me it is as traumatic for your parents as it is for you! This cake is off the hook (my kids are cringing right now).

I'm commenting without reading the post because the title and picture have me sold - I really like s'mores. But now after reading the comments it looks like this is a post that should be read. I'll go to that now.

I was a wreck the night before my wedding because I had similar feeling. No more would I be eating breakfast in my PJ's at the table, my room wouldn't be mine any more. I'd almost forgotten about those feelings, thanks for the reminder.

Such a big transition. I remember exactly how those days felt. Thank you for sharing another beautiful recipe with me. I'm sorry I've been so absent! You are an inspiration and a blessing. I hope you have a wonderful end to your week, my sweet friend!